Most and Least Affordable Cities by City Size

Explore how affordability varies by city size around the world. This ranking compares the most and least affordable cities within small, mid-sized, and large population categories, helping you understand how urban scale impacts cost of living. Use the interactive table and map to filter cities by size group and compare Cost of Living Index values. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly small city or evaluating affordability in major global hubs, this page provides a clear, data-driven comparison.

Lowest

Highest

Region Worldwide Europe Northern Europe Western Europe Eastern Europe Southern Europe

Rank	City	Population	Living Index
451	Keflavik, Iceland	15,000	144
452	Druskininkai, Lithuania	14,764	66
453	Killarney, Ireland	14,412	124
454	Carmarthen, United Kingdom	14,185	99
455	Narvik, Norway	14,183	113
456	Torshavn, Faroe Islands	14,145	115
457	Hultsfred, Sweden	14,090	88
458	Enniskillen, United Kingdom	13,757	96
459	Mallow, Ireland	13,456	124
460	Thisted, Denmark	13,416	97
461	Arklow, Ireland	13,399	125
462	Fagersta, Sweden	13,362	91
463	Bålsta, Sweden	13,138	81
464	Castlebar, Ireland	13,054	142
465	Aberystwyth, United Kingdom	13,040	108
466	Wicklow, Ireland	12,957	135
467	Voru, Estonia	12,951	90
468	Bromölla, Sweden	12,628	91
469	Kuldiga, Latvia	12,494	67
470	Odder, Denmark	12,093	106
471	Saldus, Latvia	12,085	72
472	Valga, Estonia	12,040	68
473	Vordingborg, Denmark	12,038	107
474	Elektrenai, Lithuania	12,012	68
475	Olaine, Latvia	11,910	64
476	Kopervik, Norway	11,860	130
477	Mariehamn, Aland Islands	11,817	88
478	Egersund, Norway	11,788	121
479	Johvi, Estonia	11,600	75
480	Haapsalu, Estonia	11,593	53

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: February 24, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Affordability is based on the Cost of Living Index, which compares average expenses such as housing, food, transportation, and services. Cities are grouped by population size to allow fair comparisons within similar urban categories.

Larger cities often have higher housing demand, stronger job markets, and greater infrastructure costs, which can increase living expenses. Smaller cities may offer lower housing and daily costs but sometimes fewer economic opportunities.

Not always. While small cities are often more affordable, factors like salary levels, job availability, quality of life, and services should also be considered. This ranking helps you compare affordability within each city size category.